Are your tyres safe for Winter driving?

Four small patches of rubber each about the size of your hand are the only parts of the car in touch with the road. At its4women.ie we cannot over estimate the importance of having tyres that are in good condition fitted to your vehicle. This is especially true coming into the winter when the roads are wetter and more dangerous.

So motorists are invited to have their tyres checked as part of Road Safety Week, as research by the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) shows motorists are leaving it too late in replacing their tyres. In support of this safety initiative, gardai will be out checking tyres for tread depth and general condition as part of Road Safety Week, starting today.

The ITIA survey of over 600 tyres on cars which came into tyre outlets last month showed 27pc of them to be below the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm, with almost 20pc having only a millimetre of tread or less.

The ITIA recommends that motorists change their tyres when the tread depth reaches 3mm, but only 40pc of tyres assessed were found to be compliant with this recommendation.

As part of the RSA's Road Safety Week, ITIA member outlets nationwide are offering free tyre checks to motorists who drop in this week. No appointment is necessary.

This Thursday is Tyre Safety Day, when gardai will specifically concentrate their roadside checks on tyres.

"We are pleased with the increased attention being placed on tyres in this year's Road Safety Week, as our latest research findings certainly testify to the need for more awareness," said Kevin Farrell, president of the ITIA. "A majority of motorists are failing to replace their tyres at the point where their stopping performance dips significantly, and one quarter are even letting their tyres wear beyond the1.6mm legal limit."

Alex Todd Brand Manager at Its4women commented "During ‘Irish Road Safety Week’, I would encourage road-users to avail of this service to a free tyre check at participating centres to ensure motorists are travelling safely."